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Matthew 17:9
As Jesus walks down the mountain with His disciples – Peter, James, and John, after the transfiguration, He gives them a command as is stated in Matthew 17:9 (NKJV), “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” This is not the first time that Jesus has given such a command: After healing two blind men in Matthew 9:27-31 Jesus commanded them in Matthew 9:30, “See that no one knows it.” It is believed that Jesus is concerned about His popularity becoming too great within the political world and if so, would prevent Him from accomplishing His mission of dying to save the world from sin (John 3:16-17). The Bible gives us hints of this in Luke 4:37 stating, “And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.” And in Luke 7:16-17 (NIV) states, “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.”
But Jesus did not command His disciples to not tell anyone about Him, but that they should not tell anyone about this, “until the Son of Man is risen from the dead” (Matthew 17:9, (NKJV).
This is a command to tell others of the accomplished mission of Jesus.
Jesus came not to win a popularity contest, as seems odd to us as we all want to be the most popular person in our individual worlds. But the mission to Jesus took priority over popularity. It was important for the disciples – Peter, James, and John – to see the connection of Jesus to Moses and Elijah, but it was also important that it not be publicized until the proper time – after Jesus had accomplished His mission of death on the cross and then being resurrected. It is equally important to us today that we see the importance of the mission of Jesus, not just His popularity.
Dear LORD,
Your mission in Your great plan of salvation for humanity is that we all see, hear, realize, and understand the importance of the salvation that You provide for us in Christ Jesus; that through our faith in Him as our Savior, paying the price for our sins – that we would put our faith in Him and seek Your will for our lives over and above our own will – that You would reign supreme in our hearts. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.